Firing an original Springfield 1861
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kBob
Member
Well the British Enfield bullet was loaded with the paper. When the bullet was thumbed down until the tip was even with the muzzle, the excess paper was torn off and discarded. They believed, after testing, that his reduced fouling and allowed more shots before it cot to be a chore to load. The Prichard (spelling?) bullet had no grease grooves and relied on the paper's lube for bullet lube.
I have no idea how or what with they lubed their paper......but apparently hundreds of thousands of folks in India were certain that it was a mix of cow and pig fat as rendered lard. I under stand their lube did include sheep fat but not those two actually.
-kBob
I have no idea how or what with they lubed their paper......but apparently hundreds of thousands of folks in India were certain that it was a mix of cow and pig fat as rendered lard. I under stand their lube did include sheep fat but not those two actually.
-kBob
Panzerschwein
member
Mmmmm... lard...
I love the taste of lard, and in fact have tasted the mutton tallow I use to make wads for my 1851 Navy Colt. It tastes even better!!
I love the taste of lard, and in fact have tasted the mutton tallow I use to make wads for my 1851 Navy Colt. It tastes even better!!
I'll be honest, the classic Lyman 575213(OS) Minnie isn't going down the barrel with any paper on it during battleline firing. Even if started with leftover cartridge paper around it, the muzzle will strip it off as it enters.
That goes for my `61 Springfield, `61 Colt' Special, Zouve, and 1975 Parker-Hale Enfield musketoon. (and also goes when using the thicker-based Parker-Hale Minnie mould)
That goes for my `61 Springfield, `61 Colt' Special, Zouve, and 1975 Parker-Hale Enfield musketoon. (and also goes when using the thicker-based Parker-Hale Minnie mould)
72coupe
Member
I have an unfired signature series 1861 Colt's Special Contract Musket. I have a Lee 578 diameter mini ball mould but have not cast any.
When I moved to Iowa Park, Texas in 1974 it was hanging on the wall of a local pawn shop and I always lusted after it. 3 years ago the pawn shop owner decided to retire and close his shop. I decided to buy it after all these years. I didn't get a good deal.
I very much wish to shoot it but I very much wish to keep it unfired. I find it beautiful.
When I moved to Iowa Park, Texas in 1974 it was hanging on the wall of a local pawn shop and I always lusted after it. 3 years ago the pawn shop owner decided to retire and close his shop. I decided to buy it after all these years. I didn't get a good deal.
I very much wish to shoot it but I very much wish to keep it unfired. I find it beautiful.
Steel Horse Rider
Member
I could not own something like that without shooting it at least once.......
sharps59
Member
I use a RCBS Hodgens Minnie sized 580. w 42 of 3fffg.. in 2 of the colts. clover leaf groups at 50 yrds.
On my team I know no one using 2ffg. in a 58 cal musket. most are even using 3fffg in 69 cal smoothbores.
On my team I know no one using 2ffg. in a 58 cal musket. most are even using 3fffg in 69 cal smoothbores.
Not this one is it ?
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/38...ld-58-500-m-58-caliber-575-diameter-500-grain
What's the skirt on this one look like compared against the classic Lyman Old Style -- thick skirt or thin ?
(and does it really cast .580 in pure lead)?
See Post #2...
But in short:
• a Lyman 575213(O) Minnieball/lubed/slathered with plain old Crisco (on the outside) to start
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/129/1/BALL-58-MINIE-OS
• 55-60gr of (real) 3Fg black powder (not a substitute)
• Standard musket cap
Before shooting (and running the ramrod down the barrel to make sure no one's left it loaded):
- Swab out the barrel with a standard CLP just to get a sense of whether the barrels in good condition; then dry patch it to get the CLP out
- Unscrew the nipple and run pipe-cleaners with CLP to check/clean the flash channel into the barrel; fold a patch into quarters and w/ a screwdriver clean up the nipple threads in the gun; then dry patch every out again in the nipple/flash channel; reinstall nipple with a drop of CLP on the threads
- AT THE RANGE, fire 3-4 caps DOWNRANGE with no powder charge to do a final clean-out of the nipple/flash channel.
WITH THE LAST CAP STILL ON TYHE NIPPLE/HAMMER DOWN:
- Pour the 55-60gr 3Fg powder charge down the barrel
- Ram the crisco'd minnieball down the barrel to firmly meet the powder
- Go to half-cock and cap the nipple w/ the musket cap
- Go to full cock, aim, and fire.
AFTERWARDS, CLEANING is another section....
But in short:
• a Lyman 575213(O) Minnieball/lubed/slathered with plain old Crisco (on the outside) to start
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/129/1/BALL-58-MINIE-OS
• 55-60gr of (real) 3Fg black powder (not a substitute)
• Standard musket cap
Before shooting (and running the ramrod down the barrel to make sure no one's left it loaded):
- Swab out the barrel with a standard CLP just to get a sense of whether the barrels in good condition; then dry patch it to get the CLP out
- Unscrew the nipple and run pipe-cleaners with CLP to check/clean the flash channel into the barrel; fold a patch into quarters and w/ a screwdriver clean up the nipple threads in the gun; then dry patch every out again in the nipple/flash channel; reinstall nipple with a drop of CLP on the threads
- AT THE RANGE, fire 3-4 caps DOWNRANGE with no powder charge to do a final clean-out of the nipple/flash channel.
WITH THE LAST CAP STILL ON TYHE NIPPLE/HAMMER DOWN:
- Pour the 55-60gr 3Fg powder charge down the barrel
- Ram the crisco'd minnieball down the barrel to firmly meet the powder
- Go to half-cock and cap the nipple w/ the musket cap
- Go to full cock, aim, and fire.
AFTERWARDS, CLEANING is another section....
Steel Horse Rider
Member
I always shoot 2F Goex in mine, why do you recommend 3F?
Mike OTDP
Member
You can usually take the charge lower with 3F. 45 grains is a typical N-SSA load.
Because that it what takes for both my original Colt's Special model since 1980, and now my newer Pedersoli `61 Springfield.
2Fg did not expand the skirt reliably for the accuracy I demanded, whereas 3Fg did.
As to N-SSA loads, mine was 54gr 3Fg in the Colt for all the years I shot.
"What works" is the right load.
wittzo
Member
My Lee .575 minie ball mold casts the ball a little large, it's really hard to fit into the barrel of my Euroarms '63 repro. I use 50 grains of FFg/Pyrodex RS/Triple 7 with a patched roundball, they all have the same accuracy.
sharps59
Member
its called a hodgon. Cant paste photo. don't do https
sharps59
Member
not to be funny. but do it carefully. make sure it is not already loaded. have a gun smith check the barrel make sure it is safe to shoot. clean the barrel. us a light target load of 2ffg or 3fffg about 38 to 42 grn. undersized Minnie .001 to .002
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